Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Mentioning that night she got drunk, Leda touched her nose with a hint of embarrassment.

"It was all my mom's fault, insisting I attend this so-called youth mixer. It was basically a speed dating dinner in disguise."

The young men and women were like items on display, laid out for selection.

Nola was great in every way, except for being a bit of a worrywart.

Going on about how 'unequal matches never work out' and 'love can't survive on empty pockets,' blah blah blah...

Leda was over it.

After the last visit home, she laid down the law with Nola: she could consider matches of similar social standing, but the final choice was hers to make.

In return, Nola had to swear off arranging any more blind dates or mixers behind her back.

Roseanne: "Choose for yourself?"

"Yeah, as long as the guy's family isn't broke, my mom's cool with it. Easy, I'll just pick from our circle!"

"You're really going to pick?"

Roseanne blinked.

charmers," but to find one among these men who would dote on her, pamper

all from influential families; why should I, a

my mom. But I'm not picking a date; I'm picking a business

pushed into marriage. Since none of us want to follow our families' plans, why not team up?" ""How does

on a show in public, pretend we're together,

their families off their backs without the constant nagging, while still enjoying their freedom on the side. A win-win. Roseanne still urged her to think it through, not

worry, I know what

finishing up, Roseanne seized the moment when Leda went

out, Leda pouted, "I said it was my treat, why did you go

let you foot the bill every time. I'm not

"Right, my little heiress."

out

Keep your hands to yourself in public, it's not a good

way through the lobby,

a

instinctively look in the direction

room, mostly middle-aged some with streaks of gray, neady all dressed in polo shirts with

at the center of attention stood

and handsome, he was a stark contrast to the